DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Víctor Cabral Amiama / Diario Libre

The late President Antonio Guzman chose Victor Cabral Amiama to be the country’s first Secretary of Tourism (1978-1981). Previously, tourism had a low participation in the economy, in a land where sugar and cacao exports prevailed. Cabral is credited with the firm start of major tourism development in the country.

Cabral has served as the president of Casa de Campo, the pioneer of tourism in the country, and internationally as president of Sheraton Latin America. In Mexico he also served as adjunct director of the Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (Fonatur).

Cabral today lives in Mexico. Diario Libre interviewed him when he visited and picked his brains as to where tourism in the DR is headed and what should be improved.

When asked about the DR’s positioning in Caribbean tourism, Cabral remarked that the DR isn’t just competing...